Opening an Outlook .pst file

  • Thread starter Thread starter singapore tom
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singapore tom

After a power outage I could not open my outlook contacts, calendar or
e-mails or addressbook.
I have run a scan and a repair (twice)on the "Outlook.pst" file and each I
go to File>Open>Outlook Data File>Outlook.pst (which is 222Mb in size) still
no luck all I get in e-mails is "There are no items in this view". The only
thing that opens all is my old archived deleted items which while
interesting are not what I am looking for!
There are no other messages.I have not found an event log.Where do I do
that?
What can I do next?
Is there another way to open the file?
Can I save the file somewhere safe if I have to reinstall a) windows or b)
Outlook?
I get
 
singapore tom said:
After a power outage I could not open my outlook contacts, calendar or
e-mails or addressbook.
I have run a scan and a repair (twice)on the "Outlook.pst" file and each I
go to File>Open>Outlook Data File>Outlook.pst (which is 222Mb in size)
still no luck all I get in e-mails is "There are no items in this view".
The only thing that opens all is my old archived deleted items which
while interesting are not what I am looking for!
There are no other messages.I have not found an event log.Where do I do
that?
Click to expand...

Does he have a view applied to his Inbox, such as "Unread Messages" or
perhaps a filter?


--
Aloha,

-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
Stockholm Consulting Group/KSG
http://www.scgab.com
Microsoft OneNote FAQ:
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr/computers/onenotefaq.htm

**I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for assistance.
Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
 
Yes I do - all the views are empty
Dermot

Ben M. Schorr - MVP OneNote said:
Does he have a view applied to his Inbox, such as "Unread Messages" or
perhaps a filter?


--
Aloha,

-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
Stockholm Consulting Group/KSG
http://www.scgab.com
Microsoft OneNote FAQ:
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr/computers/onenotefaq.htm

**I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
assistance. Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup.
Mahalo!
Click to expand...
 
singapore tom said:
After a power outage I could not open my outlook contacts, calendar or
e-mails or addressbook.
I have run a scan and a repair (twice)on the "Outlook.pst" file and
each I go to File>Open>Outlook Data File>Outlook.pst (which is 222Mb
in size) still no luck all I get in e-mails is "There are no items in
this view".
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like the power glitch caused your PST to become corrupt beyond
the ability of scanpst to recover it.
What can I do next?
Click to expand...

Start over.
Is there another way to open the file?
Click to expand...

You're already using the correct method.
Can I save the file somewhere safe if I have to reinstall a) windows
or b) Outlook?
Click to expand...

Sure. A good PST can be copied to any folder or external medium that will
hold it.
 
Thankyou I have saved a copy to my desk top for now.
When you say start over what do you mean? - Re-install Outlook / Windows
(ugh) ? or what. I have attempted everything else you suggested many times.
 
singapore tom said:
When you say start over what do you mean? - Re-install Outlook /
Windows (ugh) ? or what.
Click to expand...

I mean resign yourself to the fact that your old mail is gone and start with
a fresh PST.
 
I normally hot syn my palm pilot to Outlook and haven't done so since this
happened as I wanted to make sure I didn't loose my address book (contacts)
and calendar. I need to be sure Outlook will accept everything back. Is
there anything you can warn me about? Do I need to set up a new pst file? I
know I need to set my palm to over ride my Outlook. Essentially my mail is
the only thing I'll then be loosing.
In future how would I do a back to prevent this from being more
catastrophic.
Dermot
 
singapore tom said:
I normally hot syn my palm pilot to Outlook and haven't done so since
this happened as I wanted to make sure I didn't loose my address book
(contacts) and calendar. I need to be sure Outlook will accept
everything back.
Click to expand...

Since you have a "backup" on your PDA, the first thing you should do is
DISABLE all syncing with the PDA and then cradle the PDA and make a backup
of it to your hard drive (does you sync program allow you back up your PDA
or do you have backup software of some kind for the PDA?) so that if things
don't work the way you want, you can restore the PDA and try again.

Then, set your sync to replace the desktop with the contents of the PDA and
sync only one the two folders. If that works, then sync the other. You
should then have all your contacts and calendar back. Close Outlook and
make a copy of your PST for safekeeping.
 
Thank you
What should I do with the existing PST files i.e. Outlook.pst (222Mb), and
Outlook1.pst (173Mb). Should I get rid of them? Should I set up another
"empty" pst file so my hand held can fill it up? I notice I have an
Outlook.bak file (also 222Mb) is this a back up and if so how can I access
it?
 
singapore tom said:
What should I do with the existing PST files i.e. Outlook.pst
(222Mb), and Outlook1.pst (173Mb). Should I get rid of them?
Click to expand...

If you can't open them, they're worthless. If I were in your shoes, I'd
delete them.
Should I set up another "empty" pst file so my hand held can fill it up?
Click to expand...

That's what I'd do.
I notice I have an Outlook.bak file (also 222Mb) is this a back up and
if so how can I access it?
Click to expand...

Since the file type .bak has no special significance, you should know
whether or not it's a backup since you must have created it. You can always
check, though. Rename it to .pst and try to open it. See what you get.
 
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